Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-

Worship the Lord in Truth and Spirit


Rev. Sony Philip
Ebenezer MTC, NY
24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” 

A God who moves is hope for a worshiping Christian Community. We cannot place God in one particular place. Now a days most of the people are trying to place God in one place as deity i.e.; they are not interested in a God who is watching, travelling and correcting them.

True worship leads to meaningful participation and existence in Kingdom of God. Worship should encourage people to take new challenges of life. When we analyze the people of Samaria and the people of Israel who are in a conflict about the place of worship, there were so many rivalries between them. Such kind of worship doesn’t lead to fellowship of life but destruction of relationship.

People like the Samaritan woman faces so much discrimination at that time, even though Jewish people had cultural and spiritual barriers towards Samaritans. Jesus reached out to her and spoke with her. Jesus is not a law breaker, instead He is a reformer of law. Jesus offered eternal life to her, not worldly things, so she understood that He is a Great Master or Messiah. Most of the people have a nature of hurting to such a kind of people but Jesus applied a meaningful method of counseling and brought her back to a meaningful life existence. We are living in a world of sinners, if we face them with prejudgment we can never save them for God.

Jesus said to her, "Quench our thirst not through worldly matters but through living water" - that is Jesus Christ. We know this is a divided world that is divided due to religion, church, caste, etc. Worship on mount of Samaria or Sinai or Jerusalem is not a problem. Worship should be in Spirit and Truth. Truth is Jesus and  that is through worship where restoration should be occur, restoration from death, separation and temptation. Worship is a process of transformation. Through worship, Spirit of God enlightens us and gives us new discernment.
What is the quality of today’s worshiping community?

Most are not living by faith; there is increase in separatism, hatred and disrespect. Holy Spirit will make believers aware of sin, need for right relationships, and responsibility to the world around us. There is a powerful relationship between Truth and Spirit. John's Gospel defines Jesus Himself as Truth, truth is not just proclamation but it should live with integrity and Christian witness. Holy Spirit empowers us to face experiences of the Cross in our faith journey to reveal the authentic truth that is Jesus Christ.


PRAYER


God of Spirit and Truth, help us to understand authentic truth in our different life situations by the help of Your Holy Spirit and help us to lead a Christian witness before and after worship service. Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Christian God is moving God and fellow traveler, not a God of particular space and time.

Popular posts from this blog

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
  Constant, patient and welcoming love of God   St. Luke 15: 11-32  V.21: And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ The parable of the ‘Prodigal son’ is one of the most frequently quoted parables that Jesus told His disciples. The parable contains the rich mine of human virtues and emotions. This parable is lived and re-lived in progressing civilizations from time immemorial and continuing. It brings out in vivid detail the pathetic depth of human sinfulness and the glorious heights of God’s forgiveness.      As a story of human nature, fathers are generally merciful to their children in any circumstance. They are very protective and are eager to provide for and secure the lives of their offspring. Jesus is telling this parable to underscore the superlative love of God to His children. The nature of such love is reiterated by Jesus in Matthew 7:11. Humankind wh...
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
Revelation for Liberation Acts 27:18-26 Sherine Thomas Long Island MTC, NY 20  When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest raged, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. “After winter comes the summer.  After night comes the dawn.  And after every storm, there comes clear open skies” so said a Scottish clergyman from the 1600s. It’s been said, that hope can sometimes be the most dangerous weapon.  However, it’s sometimes the hardest weapon to carry when you’re living with the loss of a loved one, something that almost feels like a terrible nightmare that’ll never go away.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry when day in and day out no one seems to hear or see those tears that are shed or silent cries that are made during a heartfelt prayer. It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you see your loved one lying on that hospital bed.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you search and seek out answers to tel...
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
PRIESTHOOD: THE ANOINTED MINISTRY Exodus 40:12-16 Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting... wash them with water. Then dress Aaron in the sacred garments, anoint him and consecrate him so he may serve me as priest (Exodus 40: 12-13). Priesthood among the people of God was a divine command and initiation. God wanted some people to be separated for the special ministry among his people. God appointed Aaron and his descendants to take up this kind of ministry among the people of God. Priests are always separated and appointed as channels that connect God with his people. All throughout the history of Israel, priests played an important role in connecting people with God and to lead and guide them in the statutes of God. But there are incidents in the Bible where the priests failed in their duties and that led the people to go away from God. So the priests have a special and significant ministry to perform in this world among his people. Two important things...
Read more